Atelier Des Modistes

I’m that bride. The one that bought two dresses before I realized I needed someone to design something special just for me before I’d be happy. Upon my first meeting with Sue, I fell in love. This woman’s skills are off the charts and that came through in our very first conversation on the phone. Having studied fashion in college, Sue was just the partner I needed to make my dream dress a reality. She made the process so enjoyable – she even humored me when I would pretend to know a little about garment construction from a basic sewing class I took in school ;)
What Sue brings to the table that others don’t is not just a keen eye for design, but an immense understanding of the female form and the role that plays in creating the perfect garment. The result? My dress felt like my second skin. Finally a dress that looked and felt like ME! I never would have had that without Sue and the incredible staff at Atelier Des Modistes, and for that, I am eternally grateful. THANK YOU!!!

Only being able to give 5 stars is an understatement of the experience you will have if you visit this wedding dress shop!
Summer 2013– My mom was is town visiting and we were walking down Hyde Street and were enamored walking by the window. These were the most beautiful wedding dresses we had ever seen!
September 2014– My engagement :-) In November, I made 3 wedding dress appointments when my mom came to visit. When we walked into Atelier Des Modistes and met Suzanne Hanley, the owner and talented designer of these amazing gowns, we were immediately sold. It’s not just the experience of picking out the dress, but also a calm feeling and connection we had with Suzanne. She just ‘got me’ and my simple style I was looking for. I was able to pick out 2 dresses from her line and she was able to combine them into my perfect dress. Suzanne makes these dresses from scratch, using the most amazing fabrics so you are guaranteed a perfect fitting dress. I think I had about 8 fittings over a 6-​month period (more towards the end). Suzanne is a total perfectionist and my dress reflected that. She also helped me pick out jewelry, my hair style and accessories, veil, shoes, etc. She helped me put together my whole vision and I could not have been happier with the result.
Wedding preparation is stressful, but choosing to get my dress at Atelier Des Modistes was one of my best decisions. There was nothing stressful about working with Suzanne. She knows exactly what to do and it’s a really fun process from start to finish. Her dresses are high-​end, made in the store using the best possible fabrics and materials. For the amount of work that went into creating my dress, I would say the price could have been a lot higher! There are a lot of dresses in other stores that are way more expensive that you buy off the rack so I would say it was worth every penny for the amount of TLC that went into my dress. I am recommending Suzanne Hanley from Atelier Des Modistes to all brides– you won’t regret it!

Sue is an amazing dress designer, not to mention a warm and wonderful person in general. Not only did she execute exactly what I’d hoped for, she has such a deep understanding of what looks best for your body type and how to hide any imperfections… she lifted the areas that mattered and smoothed others. The process was incredibly detailed and something I looked forward to each week. My dress was truly one of a kind, and worth every penny spent. This was best decision I made throughout my entire wedding planning process, thank you Sue!

If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Working with Suzanne was the best decision I made throughout the entire wedding planning process. She is amazingly talented and a joy to work with. Having a custom made dress from her really made me feel like a princess on my wedding day. What I loved about working with Suzanne was that her process really made sense to me. I first let her know what I had in mind for my dress, and brought in some pictures of dresses I really liked. During our first meeting I was pretty sure I wanted to go with a custom made dress. I still got to try on some beautiful dresses in her collection to get a better idea of what I liked on my body. After letting her know what I liked about each dress I had tried on she sketched out a dress for me. It was exactly what I had in mind! Her custom made dresses are also very reasonably priced in comparison to other places in San Francisco. During the dress-​making process it was amazing to see the dress I had envisioned come to life. Something else that was really nice about having a dress made was that I had the luxury of tweaking my vision. For example, during the process after seeing the amazing Kate Middleton lace Sue was using (yes, same lace that was on the the dress of the Duchess herself) I thought, I want more of this! So I went with more of a lace cap sleeve to really show off the beauty of the pattern on my shoulders. I could go on and on about what a wonderful process it was working with Suzanne. But I will just end with, if you are looking for a wedding dress in the bay area, choose Atelier Des Modistes! They are truly amazing.

I would give ten stars if I could! My dress was perfect, and purple, which was impossible to find anywhere else. What a magical experience as well!

Do you want to feel like a princess for your special occasion? Do you want to work with a genius who is able to craft something unique that is so-​perfectly-​you, yet so much more elegant than you ever dreamed of being? Look no further — Suzanne Hanley at Atelier Des Modistes is the lady for you!
I came to Suzanne with a picture of a dress on Halle Berry — and said «I’d like this dress». Suzanne told me that she’s not a dress-​maker, she’s a designer — I’m so glad she did — because it turns out that I’m not Halle Berry — and that dress would’ve looked awful on me. but Suzanne was able to take elements of the dress (the boldness of the big beautiful color, the lace + chiffon mixture, etc.) and then design something so much more elegant, and so much more appropriate for who I am (and what I wanted to look like on my special day).
I’ve attached a few pictures from the day to highlight the beautiful piece that Suzanne and her team crafted for me. I received so many compliments — but none of that mattered because I loved my dress so much! I absolutely can’t wait to wear it again :)
Even though the price tag was a bit steep for me, I can’t recommend Suzanne highly enough. She is a truly gifted and warm person and the end result of a dress in addition to getting to know her is worth twice every penny you put in!

As father of the bride I had the unusual assignment of shopping with my daughter for a wedding dress. We went to a number of the high end stores in San Francisco, but the service was generic and none of the dresses were unique or special. Then we found Atelier on Unilocal and when we visited the first time, we were impressed with the dress choices and just as important, the knowledge and personalized attention by Suzanne. At other stores you may get sales clerks. Suzanne, on the other hand, is an experienced dressmaker, and is a perfectionist for the client. We went for fittngs numerous times over the course of six months and each time she would give advice that was helpful. The experience was so reassuring, and the end product was just beautiful beyond words.

I cannot recommend Atelier des Modistes highly enough. Working with Suzanne Hanley throughout the design and fitting of my wedding gown was a wonderful, unparalleled experience, and the completed dress was absolutely perfect. I did a great deal of dress trying-​on at Bay Area boutiques prior to visiting Atelier des Modistes, and nothing came close to my experience with Suzanne, with regard to both the loveliness and quality of her dresses, and to the level of expert, personal attention and advice. Nor was there a vast cost difference between the two. And when my mother was having an impossible time finding the right mother-​of-​the-​bride dress, Suzanne was able to design the perfect ensemble for her, as well. We both received numerous compliments at the wedding, and still are, several months later. Again, I can’t recommend Atelier des Modistes highly enough — my gown was exquisite and perfectly suited to me and to our wedding, and working with Suzanne was something that I wish could continue!

Suzanne is great. You sow a couple of pictures and she knows exactly what you are looking for. In the very first meeting she already knew everything I wanted in my dress. She works with extremely high quality of fabrics which I think is extremely important, so if you are looking for the best laces, or beaded laces or organzas, this is the place to go. The laces are to die for, a lot of options, all from Paris and you can even make your own type and pattern in the lace if you have the time. Fabric-​wise every option is available to you.
She has great designs in stock and would do anything you ask for as your wedding dress. My review is based on first appointments, cause I’ve been everywhere looking for gowns and still have not decided. When I do I will write the final review of the final dress (wanted to make sure that it is clear that I don’t have my dress yet). The service is great and the ambience very intimate that I do like.
It was one of the best experiences looking for gowns, the prices are on the high-​end but mainly because the fabrics are really good, and here the price usually depends on how much fabric and what quality you are going to use.

Suzanne is truly an artist and my wedding dress wasn’t just a dress. It was a reflection of who I am and it was the inspiration for the all the décor at the wedding. When you announce you are getting married suddenly everyone wants to help by throwing lots of their ideas on you. Its usually well-​intentioned, but very overwhelming. Suzanne actually listened to what I wanted and then gave me ideas for the design. Because of that I felt confident and happy in the dress that she made for me. She is a wonderful artist and a beautiful person. Thank you Suzanne for helping shape a beautiful day for me!

Oh man, I don’t know that I can say anything that hasn’t already been said about Sue and her team but I’ll try.
I started my search for a wedding dress about 10 months before the big day, and I didn’t have much an idea of what I wanted. I had never really dreamed about my perfect wedding or dress, and in true bay area fashion, I rarely dress up. Luckily my sister came to the rescue and booked me appointments at several bridal shops, ranging from second hand/​vintage stores to fancy bridal boutiques in downtown SF. All of them were lovely.
Our second to last stop was at Atelier des Modistes, a small place she had found online and knew very little about. We had no idea that Suzanne was a custom dress designer until we got there. After showing her some pictures of what I thought I wanted, she spent quite a bit of time talking to me and my sister about how she would create my dream dress. I tried on some of what she had and in the process, I just really felt like she saw ME. Before we had left that day, my fiancé had told me to get the dress that made me feel like a princess. And even though the dress hadn’t even been made yet, that is exactly the way Sue made me feel.
We left the shop, and my sister called and cancelled my last appointment. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind about having Sue design my dress. She worked with me almost every month for 10 months and every visit was a pleasure. I picked up my dress today and in the thank you note I wrote her, I told her that thanks to her, I knew I would feel like the most beautiful woman in the world on my wedding day. I can’t believe I could feel this way about an article of clothing, but I absolutely am in love with the results and am so, so incredibly thankful and lucky to have gotten my dress here!
PS I also referred a client here and Sue made her a beautiful dress from vintage materials that were in her family. She loved it!

Finding Suzanne was an absolute dream come true!
I was on a search for the most fabulous wedding dress ever but most places were quoting a 5 – 6 month leadtime…& I didn’t have the luxury of time & especially not for an off the rack, mass-​produced, *premade* dress.
Initially reading Atelier des Modistes also preferred 5 – 6 months, I lucked onto a Unilocal review mentioning an exception that was made for shorter timeframe, so I thought why not at least ask… best move I ever made!
Suzanne & I immediately hit it off. She had incredible concepts & an end vision — which was extremely helpful for someone like me, who has NO ability to be creative or visualize! I loved her ideas & the thought of having a custom, one-​of-​a-​kind, couture gown, made especially to fit me & my personality, was a no-​brainer
High-​end silks & lace were paired w/​vintage sequins & glass beads, for the perfect classic-​with-​pinache effect we were seeking.
The fitting appts were incredibly fun & people walking by her shop would literally stop at the door & knock on the window to get our attention & tell us how awesome my dress looked (which it did!) — it was so surreal! One person even asked Suzanne if my dress was for the SF Ballet b/​c it looked just like a Fairy Princess’ dress. But it was ME who was the princess!
And we didn’t just stop at the wedding dress — Suzanne made the most rocking, phenomenal, reception dress as well — did someone say peacock & vintage ostrich feathers?! She does not only do wedding dresses!
In the shop, you’ll also find pieces from local jewelers who have made, or will create, perfect compliments to the look you’re going for…& Suzanne worked w/​one of her designers to create earrings specifically for each of my dresses
I’m a one-​of-​a-​kind girl & these were one-​of-​a-​kind looks that definitely made me the star of the evening. No exaggeration — our wedding party literally lost count of all the comments & compliments we received from strangers who were passing us by, but *had* to stop & tell us how exquisite /​extraordinary my dresses were…& that was not even all the comments we just overheard from the crowds
I completely felt like a fairy princess that evening & these are both dresses I look forward to wearing again & again!
…and Suzanne & I are already planning my next cocktail /​fun-​function gown… can’t wait!

Where do I begin? I got my wedding dress here and Sue was incredible! I remember walking by and seeing the pretty dresses in the window and knowing I had to get my dress there. I am quite busty with a smaller waist and for the life of me knew I needed a custom dress and boy did Su emake me happy!

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience than the one I had with Suzanne at Atelier Des Modistes. I was 3 months pregnant when I went wedding dress shopping and 5 months pregnant when I got married, and Suzanne was the only dress designer that truly knew how to handle the situation. Other designers claimed it was no big deal and that I could pick any dress I wanted, but Suzanne knew a strapless dress wouldn’t be comfortable at 5 months pregnant. She put me in the most beautiful gown, and you can’t even tell I’m pregnant in my wedding pictures.
It is obvious that Suzanne is uniquely gifted when it comes to wedding dresses, and she makes shopping for a wedding dress personal and fun. All of her dresses are unique and the highest quality you can get. Absolutely perfect!

Is there an option for 10 stars?
Over the course of five months, Sue built a perfect custom wedding dress for me from the ground up. She found the ideal combination of organza to layer below lace she was using; she dyed the straps and waistband to get them just the right shade; she finished the edges of the organza with beautiful trim, and so on.
The thing I enjoyed the most about working with Sue is that when you show up for a fitting, you get to discuss the next part of the dress together in detail and then play with different combinations to get it exactly right. She doesn’t settle for less than perfect, which is exactly what you want for your wedding dress. Plus, she is down to earth and charming.
Last plug — don’t be limited to what you see on her floor. My dress looked nothing like any of the dresses in her shop. I think if you go this route, it’s helpful to shop in a handful of traditional wedding dress shops and then discuss with Sue what you have liked and not liked and the look you are trying to achieve.
Of course this level of workmanship and attention does not come cheap but if you have a comfortable mid-​high budget, come here. Otherwise you are stuck with the existing dress selection, which can start to all look the same and you will be at the mercy of the alterations departments at Marina Morrison, Bridal Galleria or wherever, which can be spotty.
I heart you Suzanne and will come by the shop to say hi soon!

Suzanne is amazing! I loved everything about her, her store, and the veil that I ended up with for my wedding. The service is personal & Suzanne has beautiful pieces that are reasonably priced!!! You will not be disappointed. This place is a must if you are getting married.
She also carries some fantastic jewelry made locally. Check it out! I bought some white sapphire earrings that are fantastic.

As others have said, this is a special place.
I, unfortunately, did not have the budget to have a custom gown made by Suzanne… but I did get the next best thing. I bought a sample! I was going for a very non-​traditional look, and Suzanne helped me pick out a luxurious butter-​yellow bustier top (which I later paired with a latte tulle skirt). She also recommended an excellent and affordable tailoress (Jin Di!) If you are on a tight budget — don’t despair! Check out the sample sale!
It is a joy to support an incredible artisan like Suzanne!
ALSO — the jewelry here is INCREDIBLE and she has great sales on these pieces too.

After searching several stores for a wedding dress, a friend of mine suggested that I meet with Suzanne Hanley of Atelier Des Modistes to talk about having a dress made. That turned out to be the single best piece of wedding advice I received!
From the moment I met Suzanne I instantly had complete confidence in her. I brought her a few pictures of styles I liked and she immediately had great ideas. I knew that I wanted to wear a short dress, which she was so excited about. Suzanne’s taste is impeccable, her attention to detail is amazing, and her construction skills are flawless. Plus, working with Suzanne is so much fun! I loved going to her beautiful studio for fittings and being part of the process of creating my wedding dress.
I can’t recommend Atelier Des Modistes highly enough. I ended up with a wedding dress that was not only stunning and perfectly constructed, but that also completely suited my personality. Suzanne is a warm and wonderful person with unbelievable skills. If you’re in the market for a wedding dress, stop by her shop or give her a call – you be so glad you did!

I am the luckiest girl in the world because I have a dress from Atelier des Modistes. Okay, actually two dresses (Suzanne also made my sassy Saturday night dress, but that is another story…). One of the best parts of my upcoming (in exactly 7 days) nuptials is having had my dress made by Suzanne Hanley, who is an artist and technician extraordinaire. I first set eyes on Atelier des Modistes from outside the window one night as I was passing innocently by. It was late, and the shop was closed, but I immediately knew it was a gem. I secretly made the dress in the window my phone screen saver before I hurried away, dreaming of the day that I would have a reason to go inside in earnest.
Then the day came. And lo, I remembered. I googled. I read (an article in SF Gate – glee!). I made an appointment forthwith. I was so, so, so, so right.
Suzanne’s attention to detail was astonishing – she knew her fabrics (french and italian vintage silks aplenty), she understood structure (her engineering background shone through), and her experience was vast (her grandmother taught her to sew as a tot). She didn’t rush – I tried on everything in sight. Her designs were original, beautiful, classic, and of the highest imaginable quality.
I was not a bride on a small budget, but I did have a budget, and Suzanne respected it from day one. We discussed every detail, built my dress from muslin to resplendent italian shantung beauty, and added vintage lace harvested from 1920s French silk… all within my budget and actually for less money than it would have cost to buy off the rack. How about THAT? Not to mention, every fitting was included. And I came every month to parade around the Atelier with my dress in various stages of development. Every month. And I enjoyed every second of it.
I brought my mother (thrice) and my MOG (Mother of Groom) and both were drawn completely in by the palpable magic of my incomparable dress and Suzanne’s creative mastery. I did once, in the beginning of the «process» check out Marina Morrison (Suzanne advised me to visit other shops). The dresses there were nice, of course, but could not hold a candle to the fairytale beauty and simple, elegant, graceful magic of Suzanne’s atelier.
I am going to wear my dress but once, but every moment will be golden, silken, magical, amazing because I am a GODDESS in my incredible dress and thank you thank you THANK YOU Suzanne. The old adage is true. Take care to get what you like or else you will have to like what you get. I LOVE my dress. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I live around the corner from Atelier Des Modistes, so I’d often peered in the window at the lovely gowns and fantasized about one day having a reason to go in. Naturally it was one of the first bridal salons I visited after getting engaged — and let me tell you, it exceeded my expectations.
My high school french deserted me long long ago, so Suzanne had to explain that «atelier» means workshop. And a workshop it is, wherein Suzanne creates your very own custom-​made gown with imported fabrics and her superb eye for detail. I stood in a strapless head-​to-​toe lace affair while she pulled it tight here and let it out there, added a ribbon and voila! Even the sample made me feel like a superstar. As if on cue, a group of onlookers suddenly appeared in the window and started cheering and photographing me with their cell phones (you can’t make this stuff up).
Sadly (soooooo sadly), as I became better-​acquainted with our wedding budget I realized an Atelier dress was not in the cards for me. The prices were beyond reasonable, but I found myself looking for something at around the $ 1000 range (told you it was low-​budg). Were I more financially well-​equipped, this would have been my choice. So much more personal and special than any of the other high-​end salons I visited in town, Atelier made me feel for the first time what it would be like to be a bride.